Thermal chests



June 14, 1966 L, E. BNR ETAL 3,255,607

THERMAL CHESTS June 14, 1966 l.. E. BAIR ETAL 3,255,607

THERMAL CHESTS Filed March 24, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet `2 INVENTORS LESTER E. BAIR GERSON MEYER LOU KRAMER WMe/1.129. Mba/mw ATTORNEY L` E. BAIR ETAL THERMAL CHESTS June 14, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 24, 1965 FIG.8

INVENTORS LESTER E. BAIR me. lo. .fssemw BY mfg. fm

ATTORNEY June 14, 1966 l.. E. BAIR ETAL 3,255,507"

THERMAL CHESTS Filed March 24, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet L FIG. I4.

INVENTORS LESTER E. BAIR GERSON MEYER LOU KRAMER ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,255,607 THERMAL CHESTS Gerson Meyer, and Lou Kramer, all of Baltimore, Md. Filed Mar. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 442,403 2 Claims. (Cl. 62-372) Lester E.: Bair,

An object of the invention is the provision of an element lforming a structural part of the chest which can also be used, when desired, as a source of cold tokeep objects placed in the chest under refrigeration.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a shelf member in combination with a cold storage chest which can be conditioned to function as a source of cold.

' A still further object of the invention is the provision of a member which can be disposed on the interior of the chest to function as a structural member and also as a source of cold. 4

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a tray member that Vcan be used to hold liquids to be consumed as well as freezable liquids to function as a source of cold.

A still further object is the provision Vof such a tray member so constructed as to provide .a safety expansion space therein to allow for'expansion of liquids when su-bjected to freezing temperatures.

A still further object is the provision of such a portable tray member that can be used in a plurality of different ways, as a cold storage member for liquids to be consumed `and as a source of refrigeration in conjunction with or independently of .a portable container for foods, or both simultaneously.

These objects and still further objects, advantages and features of the invention will appear from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a thermally insulated container having a shelf member therein in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the shelf member, apart from the container, with a portion cut away.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a thermal chest and tray showing a modified embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the tray member of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the tray member of FIG. 4.

' FIG. 7 is a sectional view along the line 7-7 of FIG. 4. FIG. 8 is a sectional View along the line 8-8 of FIG. 5. FIG. 9 is a sectional view along the line 9-9 of FIG. 5. FIG. 10 is a sectional view along the line 10-10 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of the tray member of FIG. 4.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view along the line 12-12 of FIG. 11. n

FIG. 13 is a sectional View of a fragmentary portion of the modified tray member along the lines 13-13 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 1l of a further modification of the tray member.

3,255,607 Patented June 14, 1966 Referring with more particularity to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawing, a thermally insulated container shown therein is of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,024,940 and it comprises an open top box or receptacle 11 of a rigid heat insulating material, such las foamed polystyrene or other such suitable material. Th' receptacle is provided with a removable lid 12 of a similar insulating material. A carrying handle 13 may also be provided.

The lower section 14 is smaller in size than the upper section 15, as explained in the patent referred to above and, yas a result of this difference in size, portions 16 of the side walls and portions 17 of the end walls of the lower section protrudeinwardly relative to the corresponding walls of the upper section. Y

These protruding portions 16 and 17 form a support for a shelf member 18 which is removably disposed in the upper section. v

The shelf member 18 or a portion thereof to be used as a source of cold is formed of a rigid non-porous material having good thermal conducting properties, such as nonporous polystyrene, metals, vsuch as aluminum, alloys of various kinds, etc., and the walls thereof are formed with a hollow space 19. This hollow space is filled orpartially filled with a liquid material 20 having a high coefficient of thermal exchange, including .a high specific heat and/or a high latent heat of fusion with a relatively low coeicient of `thermal expansion. Such liquid materials are conventionally used in ordinary containers adapted to be preconditioned by placing them in a deep freeze compartment for a period to extract heat energy and then used as a source of cold. One liquid suitable for this purpose comprises an aqueous slurry of starch. Ordinary water may also be used.

The space in the lower section below the normal position of the shelf 18 is adapted to receive food materials 21 or any other material requiring refrigeration, such as medicines, medical specimens, etc.

The shelf, before being placed in position, is preconditioned by placing it in a deep freeze compartment for a period to extract heat energy from the liquid 20.

Thus, when the preconditioned shelf .is placed in the container, it will function as a source of cold and mainltain the material in the lower section at refrigeration ternperatures for a substantial period.

Additional materials may also be placed on the shelf 18 to be chilled in direct contact with shelf. Also, the shelf may be used apart from -the container as a serving tray for materials t-o be kept cold while being served, such as food, or While being used biologically, such as medicine or materials during treatment tof a patient. To facilitate this use, finger recesses 22 in the end walls 23 are provided.

The modied embodiment shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7 is similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 12, and 3, except ithat the shelf member 24 is foreshortened -in one of its dimensions (for example, lengthwise, as illustrated) thereby -obvi'ating the need for the linger recesses 22. In this modified embodiment, an access opening 25 for the interior space 26 is provided at a convenient place with a pouring spout 27.

In accordance with a feature ofthe invention, the opening and spout are located at a recessed section of the tray so that when the interior space 26 is lled with liquid to be frozen Vby pouring liquid into the spout there will always remain an air space inside the tray as a safety measure to prevent breakage of the tray when liquid therein is subjected to freezing temperatures. This is preferably done as illustrated by providing an enlarged wall portion 28 at one end in which a recess 29 is formed for the spout 27. Thus, when the tray is removed and placed in an upright position with the spout at the top (see FIG. 8) liquid poured into the interior space 26 through the spout will not rise to a level above the spout and thereby assuring the retention of an air space 30 above the liquid level to take care of any expansion of the liquid under freezing conditions as a protective measure to avoid rupture of the tray.

The spout 27 is provided with threads 31 to engage the threads of a cap 32, which, when in place, is preferably4 also contained within the recess 29.

The tray member of FIGS. 4 to 10 may be formed of any suitable material, including solid polyethylene, polystyrene, aluminum, etc. The tray is preferably provided with rib portions 33 to increase its structural strength.

The modiication illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12 comprise the addition of an interior wall 34 which is integral with `the remaining structure of the tray and subdivides the interior space into compartments 35 and 36, thereby permitting the use of different liquids in each of these compartments. For example, it may be desirable to place orange juice or a cocktail mixture in one and water in the other. The wall 34 may be provided so as to extend diametrically through the spout 37 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13 so as to maintain a division of the compartments relative to each other and permit a single cap 38 to close both. Each compartment may be filled by pouring liquid into one side or the other of the pouring spout. To remove the liquids separately, it is only necessary to restrain flow through one side of the spout such as by placing a finger or other object thereover while permitting the liquid to pour out through the other side.

A more convenient version of this arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 14 in which separate spouts 39 and 40 are provided for each of the compartments 41 and 42, respectively, and each spout is provided with its own separate cap 43 and 44, respectively.

We claim:

1. A portable container comprising thermally insulated exterior walls, said walls being shaped to delineate on the exterior a bottom section relatively narrower than the upper section, said bottom section having portions of its walls protruding inwardly relative to the portions of the upper section, said protruding portions forming a tray support, a removable tray member normally disposed wholly in the upper section, and seated on said protruding portions, said tray being constructed of a material having a relatively high coeiiicient of heat conductivity and having a hollow interior adapted to retain a liquid material of a relatively high coeflicient of thermal exchange, said tray member having vertical sides forming an enclosure at the top for objects to be carried by the tray, said tray member having a filling aperture for the transfer of liquid into and out of said hollow interior, and a removable closure cap sealing said aperture, said .tray member having a recessed section on one side thereof, said filling aperture being disposed in said recessed section inwardly of the outer boundaries of said hollow interior on said last mentioned side, whereby when liquid is poured into the hollow interior through said opening, a portion of the hollow interior will remain unfilled above the maximum liquid level and thereby provide for the expansion of liquid when subjected to freezing temperatures.

2. A portable tray comprising a container of generally liat shape having a hollow interior adapted to contain a liquid-and having also exterior walls delineating an area for supporting articles on the tray, said exterior walls having an enlarged portion at one end of the tray, said portion having a recessed section, said recessed section having a filling aperture for pouring liquid into and out of the hollow interior, a second liquid iilling aperture in said recessed section, means subdividing said hollow interior into mutually independent compartments, each of said filling apertures communicating exclusively with one of said compartments, and a removable enclosure cap for said apertures, said apertures being each disposed inwardly of the outer boundaries of its respective compartment.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,771,186 7/1930 Mock 62-457 2,496,296 2/1950 Lobl 62-457 X 2,504,911 4/ 1950 Whitecar 62-457 2,527,571 lil/1950 Pownall 62-459 X 2,694,297 11/ 1954 Shoemaker 62-530 X 2,767,563 11/ 1956 Picascia 62--372 X ROBERT A, OLEARY, Primary Examiner. LLOYD L. KING, MEYER PERLIN, Examiners. 

1. A PORTABLE CONTAINER COMPRISING THERMALLY INSULATED EXTERIOR WALLS, SAID WALLS BEING SHAPED TO DELINEATE ON THE EXTERIOR A BOTTOM SECTION RELATIVELY NARROWER THAN THE UPPER SECTION, SAID BOTTOM SECTION HAVING PORTIONS OF ITS WALLS PROTRUDING INWARDLY RELATIVE TO THE PORTIONS OF THE UPPER SECTION, SAID PROTRUDING PORTIONS FORMING A TRAY SUPPORT, A REMOVABLE TRAY MEMBER NORMALLY DISPOSED WHOLLY IN THE UPPER SECTION, AND SEATED ON SAID PROTRUDING PORTIONS, SAID TRAY BEING CONSTRUCTED OF A MATERIAL HAVING A RELATIVELY HIGH COEFFICIENT OF HEAT CONDUCTIVITY AND HAVING A HOLLOW INTERIOR ADAPTED TO RETAIN A LIQUID MATERIAL OF A RELATIVELY HIGH COEFFICIENT OF THERMAL EXCHANGE, SAID TRAY MEMBER HAVING VERTICAL SIDES FORMING AN ENCLOSURE AT THE TOP FOR OBJECTS TO BE CARRIED BY THE TRAY, SAID TRAY MEMBER HAVING A FILLING APERTURE FOR THE TRANSFER OF LIQUID INTO AND OUT OF SAID HOLLOW INTERIOR, AND A REMOVABLE CLOSURE CAP SEALING SAID APERTURE, SAID TRAY MEMBER HAVING A RECESSED SECTION ON ONE SIDE THEREOF, SAID FILLING APERTURE BEING DISPOSED IN SAID RECESSED SECTION INWARDLY OF THE OUTER BOUNDARIES OF SAID HOLLOW INTERIOR ON SAID LAST MENTIONED SIDE, WHEREBY WHEN LIQUID IS POURED INTO THE HOLLOW INTERIOR THROUGH SAID OPENING, A PORTION OF THE HOLLOW INTERIOR WILL REMAIN UNFILLED ABOVE THE MAXIMUM LIQUID LEVEL AND THEREBY PROVIDE FOR THE EXPANSION OF LIQUID WHEN SUBJECTED TO FREEZING TEMPERATURES. 